Alcorn State vs AR-Pine Bluff 3/5/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Alcorn State Braves meet Saturday in college basketball action from Davey Whitney Complex. AR-Pine Bluff is coming off a Thursday matchup versus Jackson State. The Golden Lions ended up losing by eight points. As for Alcorn State, they played MS Valley State in their Thursday appearance. In that game the Braves won by three. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

AR-Pine Bluff has had major difficulties in stringing together wins this season. The Lions came into February on a 5-17 clip, then hit a 2-5 run last month. The losses in that time were to Alcorn State, Jackson State, Alabama A&M, Prairie View and Texas Southern. 

On Thursday versus Jackson State, the Golden Lions were up by three points going into the second. AR Pine Bluff was outscored 38-49 from there in a tough 87-79 loss. Leading scorer Shawn Williams posted 32 points with one assist in the defeat. 

Over on the Alcorn State side, they won just one of their first 12 games this year. The Braves got much better once then conference games kicked in, though. Alcorn State managed to hit a 12-4 run through the next 16 outings to flirt with .500 again. 

Matched up against MS Valley State on Thursday, the Braves hit a 43-29 run in the first half. Alcorn State was outscored 29-40 from there but hung on for the 72-69 win. Both Dontrell McQuarter and Justin Thomas posted 14 points apiece. 

The Braves are 1-4 ATS in their last five at home and 2-5 ATS in their last seven after a straight-up win. The under is 4-1 in Alcorn State’s last five overall. 

Meanwhile, the Lions are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games and 4-1 ATS in their last five Saturday games. ARPB is 5-1 ATS in their last six overall. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with Alcorn State. The Braves had a sketchy second half against MS Valley State in their last outing, but to their credit they were able to hang on for their fifth straight victory. Alcorn State has scored well lately; they’ve hit 68 or more points in 14 of their last 16 games. That run includes a 70-64 road win versus AR Pine Bluff the last time these teams saw each other back on February 5. If Alcorn State can get off to another good start I think they’ll be fine on a cover in this rematch.